Inspection and Testing
British law (the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989) requires that all electrical systems (including electrical appliances) are maintained (so far as is reasonably practicable) to prevent danger. Private houses are not covered by this legislation, although occupiers' liability requires householders not to deliberately expose occupants or visitors to unreasonable risks. However, all our products are PAT tested (Portable Appliance Testing) and labelled with the date of test and tester initials.
Testing is performed by a Level 2 tester as defined by paragraph 50 of the HSG107
Inspection is conducted during manufacture and at the beginning of formal testing. According to the HSE, this process can find more than 90% of faults.
The tests an appliance is required to undergo will depend on the type of appliance, its electrical Class and subject to a risk assessment by the technician.
The Earth resistance test shows the resistance offered by the earthing conductors with the connection leads. Various testing instruments are available for earthing resistance tests. The earthing resistance should be less than 1Ω.
Earth continuity test shows that the equipment shall have a measured resistance of the protective earth circuit, or the earthing conductor of an extension cord or appliance cord set, which does not exceed 1Ω.
Testing is performed using an ohmmeter or PAT tester.
Insulation resistance test is a leakage current test performed at rated voltage with values not exceeding 5mA for Class I appliances or 1mA for Class II appliances. Alternatively, measured insulation resistance values are not less than 1MΩ for Class I and Class II appliances at 500 V d.c.
Leakage current testing is performed using a PAT by applying a nominal voltage to the live conductors (active and neutral) of an appliance, and placing 0 volt reference on the earthed parts of a Class I appliance or the external metal parts of a Class II appliance;
Nominal voltage is 230V AC. Insulation resistance testing is performed using an ohmmeter or portable appliance tester by applying a nominal voltage to the live conductors (active and neutral) of an appliance, and placing 0 volt reference on the earthed parts of a Class I appliance or the external metal parts of a Class II appliance
Polarity testing is a simple test that can be carried out using a polarity tester to determine whether the active and neutral of the plug end are correctly connected to the corresponding terminals at the socket end.[9] Note: The earth is tested during the earth continuity test. In the UK, as per BS7671, the phase ('Live' or 'Hot') cable should connect with right hand side terminal of the socket (if we face the socket outlet). The polarity to lamp sockets is also checked. For instance, if an E27 screw socket is 230V, then the neutral shall go to the screw surface and live shall go to the centre contact.
In 13-Amp Plugs, the order (polarity) of the pins of a three pin flat pin plug, to their connections, shall be Earth (radial pin – green/yellow wire), Neutral (light blue wire) and then Active (brown wire), in a clockwise direction, when viewed from the front of the plug looking at the pins. However, the fuse will be between 1 Amp and 3 Amp rating.